{REVIEW} HEX: Saxton Academy by Mackenzie McGuire

Title: HEX
Author: Mackenzie L. McGuire
Series: Saxton Academy Series
Book: 1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy
Rating: ★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

I’m Reece. A month ago I died along with my two best friends in a car crash. Obviously, my death didn't last long. Since then, I hear voices and the nightmares – don’t even get me started. I just wanted to be normal. That meant leaving my lux L.A. life for the gothic, and icy, Saxton Academy in the mountains of Vermont. Away from the tabloids, I had a plan to get my life together. But that just isn't possible. Thanks to hotties Eli McKinnon and Carden McDowell I discovered my life is a lie. They want to help me reach my potential. I just want to be a regular girl. But darkness is coming, and if I want to stay alive, I may not have a choice.

My Reaction/Thoughts:

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange of a review*

HOLY GUACAMOLE!

This book was fantastic! It is marked as a lighter YA novel with old school YA tones and I have to say that is 100% accurate. It was very reminiscent of some of the first YA novels that turned me onto avid reading and I was feeling a little nostalgic. I absolutely loved it. HEX is a light, easy, fun read and I enjoyed myself. I could not put it down. I found myself flying threw the pages in desperate need to find out what would happen next. This book leaves off with a load of unanswered questions, but it also leaves open a door for a great series to come. It has great potential and I cannot wait to read more!

What I really enjoyed were the characters. They were all unique in their own way and I loved each and every one of them. I found Reece's voice to be quite entertaining. I loved her wit and sarcasm. I felt like she was easy to relate to and her little snarky comments were a riot to read. I was amazed by her strength and her willingness to move forward. She went through a huge tragedy, but yet was determined to put her life back together and just be a normal teenage girl. The fact that she was able to make light of situations and just be spunky was refreshing. She doesn't just mope around and pity herself or her life like so many other female characters do in other YA novels. She uses her friends to find strength. This is important for her. She wants to belong. She needs to belong.

Speaking of friends, how fabulous is Tuesday?! This girl is the very picture of a girl that you want as your best friend. She is just as spunky as Reece, but she's so much more. She is smart, she is kind, she is loyal, and kind of a genius. Who else can write their own video game code right at the cafe lunch table?

As for the boys...well hot dang. Those boys were flawless. I don't think it's very fair to give us two boys to swoon over, but I'll take it!

Carden McDowell is such a cute teddy bear that I wanted to squeeze every time I was scared. I loved how he was always there to comfort Reece. I can't wait to see more of Carden in the future because I definitely didn't get enough!

Eli McKinnon, oh boy.

This boy is gorgeous, caring, loving, protective, and all around swoon-worthy. I absolutely loved him!

As for the romance, I felt it moved rather quickly. However, the fact that their magic energies are what connects them is really interesting so I am just rolling with it. I think that makes it a little bit more exciting and it will be interesting to see how this progresses. Or maybe what trouble it may cause for the coven, who knows?

The magic was very easy to understand in this book. It wasn't overly complicated and I was able to follow along perfectly. I really liked that because it didn't take me out of the novel. I felt like I was learning everything just as Reece was. I would have liked to see more of the magic aspect and learn what everyone can really do with their individual gifts, but I suspect that to come in the future.

Overall, I am so glad I read this novel. The writing flowed effortlessly and made the world building quite easy to understand. It was fast, it was fun, it was easy and I can't wait to read more.

If you're looking for fun, light paranormal read, this book is 100% for you.

Thank you so much Mackenzie McGuire for this opportunity and look forward to reading more of your work in the future! ♥



You can purchase your copy of HEX: Saxton Academy at here:
[Kindle eBook] [Amazon]

{REVIEW} Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Blue Lily, Lily Blue
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Raven Cycle
Book: 3
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Rating: ★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.

Certainties can unravel.

My Reaction/Thoughts:

I didn't think it was possible to have an even more beautiful cover, but behold Blue Lily, Lily Blue!

This was was easier for me to read and I don't exactly know why. I didn't find myself skimming and wanting to rush the book because I was actually invested and looking forward to reading it. Something just finally clicked I suppose. However, the writing! Gah I am still not a fan and I have just come to the conclusion that I never will be. I love the plot and the characters, but I just can't get into the writing. Stiefvater has a verbose style and it takes me out of the story sometimes. For example:

Blue was glad that it was dead and then felt bad that she felt glad that it was dead.

 Way too many words and repetitive. I just don't care for it. She does this frequently throughout the book and it can be simplified. But, I pushed through and I glad I did because the plots are really what is carrying me forward. They are unique and so interesting.

Blue was still a little sassy lily and I loved her.
Ronan was a sarcastic little jerk and I fell in love with him even more.
Gansey is so adorable and I just want to hug him tight.
Adam...I still sometimes want to slap sometimes, but this book it decreased to 40% of the time. Progress!

Gansey and Blue need to happen like, yesterday.
Ronan and Adam: I ship it.

I just loved the little hand touching between Gansey and Blue when no was looking. Oh! And their late night phone calls to talk about the most random things. Or the way Gansey would stay awake just to hear Blue talk to him. ♥♥♥
Even Ronan and Adam had some simple, but sweet moments that had me giggling. It's so sweet how Adam is aware of Ronan's crush on him and it makes him see how he is worthy of someone wanting him, and not just anyone...Ronan Lynch. I want them. I need it. Ronan is seriously the best character and I love his sass.

“I’m going in,” Gansey said as Ronan sat down on the step beside Adam. As Gansey shut the door behind him, he heard Adam say, “I don’t want to talk,” and Ronan reply, “The fuck would I talk about?” 

Oh! Oh! And Mr. Gray! Oh Mr. Gray! He is so in love with Maura and adorable. I loved how he just made himself comfortable being around 300 Fox Way (speaking of, I hate how frequently Stiefvater says 300 Fox Way. Can't we just say Blue's house? Or home?) I love how comfortable Blue feels around him and has grown attached to him. Especially at the end when they were in that cavern. Awe!

I cannot wait to read the last book because we have so much hype between these three books focusing on finding Glendower and now we have to finally find him! It's been a rough journey, but we are getting there! I cannot wait! We got so close and still have to wait another book! Gah!

And can we talk about that CLIFFHANGER! WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?!

 I NEED ANSWERS! I NEED THE RAVEN KING NOW!

{REVIEW} The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Dream Thieves
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Raven Cycle
Book: 2
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Rating: ★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

If you could steal things from dreams, what would you take?

Ronan Lynch has secrets. Some he keeps form others. Some he keeps from himself.

One secret: Ronan can bring things out of his dreams.

And sometimes he's not the only one who wants those things.


Ronan is one of the raven boys—a group of friends, practically brothers, searching for a dead king named Glendower, who they think is hidden somewhere in the hills by their elite private school, Aglionby Academy. The path to Glendower has long lived as an undercurrent beneath town. But now, like Ronan's secrets, it is beginning to rise to the surface—changing everything in its wake.

My Reaction/Thoughts:

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS COVER IS EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL?! RONAN! THE RAVENS! GLORIOUS

The Dream Thieves and I had a rough start. I was well over halfway through the book and I wasn't connecting the way I thought I would. I didn't want to judge it too harshly after not really loving The Raven Boys because that was the first book and I felt that definitely suffered from First Book Syndrome. So I went in completely expecting to love Thieves. While I did enjoy it a lot more than the first book, it did take me awhile. The thing I loved about this book was simply because it focused on Ronan figuring how who he was and get a grasp on his supernatural powers and how that releates to his family's history. I thought the plot was really a step up and I enjoyed it. While, the book centrally focused on Ronan, our old gang was still there battling their own obstacles. Gansey was still searching for Glendower, although not as seriously, Blue was struggling with her fortune coming true and her developing feelings for Gansey, and Adam was facing the aftermath of his choices after the first book. Adam still really bothers me and I need something to make me like him. Pronto!

I still rated this fairly average because though I really did enjoy it I was still a bit confused. I kind of did not like how I felt like so much information was thrown at me and I was just supposed to understand it all. I was kind of confused with where things were going

One thing that I found really weird was Ronan and Kavinsky's relationship. They had this bitterness towards each other and Ronan absolutely hated him, but I never knew why, other than the fact that the Raven boys continuously say he's an a$$hole. Then all of a sudden Kavinsky is all jealous and clingy and it turned him into the psychotic villain of our story. Whoa!

However, I enjoyed the obvious confessions that we got Ronan. He was just a great lead in this book. He has some dark demons and there is so much more to him! I just love him so much! Oh my sweet, Ronan. ♥

Another character we were introduced to was the mysterious Gray Man. Now I admit I did not care for this man at all. He creeped me out and I didn't even want to read his POV. I found myself skimming his chapters and moving on. But I started to find him interesting when he found out exactly what the Greywaren was and decided not to take Ronan. And we found out his real name and about his brother. Though I would have liked to know a little bit more about his backstory because his confrontation with his brother was so quick!

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, but I don't know I am just not a fan of Maggie Stiefvater still. She hasn't won me over and her books always make me zone off. However, this book really grabbed my attention during the last 150 pages and I honestly can't wait to read what happens next in Blue Lily, Lily Blue  now because that ending was insane! Maura! RONAN! What?! Oh my gods I am so intrigued. I think I am just invested now and I have to know what happens.

{REVIEW} The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Raven Cycle
Book: 1
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Rating: ★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.


From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

My Reaction/Thoughts:

ISN'T THE COVER BEAUTIFUL?! I LOVE IT!

I really wanted to love this book. I really, really did! So much so that I felt like I was forcing myself to love it more than I actually was. Everyone on bookstagram and Booktube just raves about how amazing The Raven Cycle series is that I couldn't wait to get started and I have to say I was not impressed. It's not that I felt like it was bad — it wasn't — it just was okay. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I think I just expected more because everyone hyped it up so much that I had really high hopes and they just weren't met. But I did enjoy it and am interested in what else will happen.

The thing I really liked about this book was the sweet Raven boys. Every single one of them was an unique puzzle piece and together they were a beautiful whole. I loved this group so much. Gansey is so entertaining to read because he is so adventurous and determined! I loved the way he looks after his friends and treats them like family. Because of Gansey's love and protectiveness over his friends, it kind of made me a little bit bothered by Adam Parrish. I understand that Adam is strong minded and wants to do everything himself. He doesn't like taking hand outs, but I hated how much he resented Ronan and Gansey just because they had money and he didn't. Sometimes I think it's a miracle he's even still friends with them if he is so bothered by what and where they come from.

“Gansey had once told Adam that he was afraid most people didn't know how to handle Ronan. What he meant by this was that he was worried that one day someone would fall on Ronan and cut themselves.” 

On the other hand, I really, really liked Ronan. I think there is just so much more to him and I can't wait to learn more. I love his tough guy exterior and he is so interesting! And how sweet was he over Chainsaw, his pet raven?! And how cute is it that he named her Chainsaw!?

My favorite character is definitely Blue. I just find her so interesting and I love reading her perspective. I love her crazy clairvoyant family. I think they are so funny and great to read. I am really interested to see how her feelings for Gansey progress because we all know it's going to happen. She saw his spirit on St. Mark's eve and then there was the prophecy that she fears will come true when she kisses her true love. So I can't wait to see what happens! I am scared because I do actually ship her with Gansey so hard! I just love them together! It's so sweet and funny how sarcastic Blue is when she talks to Gansey.

“Watch for the devil. When there’s a god, there’s always a legion of devils.” 

This book is easily read and the plot is entertaining, but it is just "okay" to me. Nevertheless, I am reading the sequel The Dream Thieves to find out what happens next!

{REVIEW} Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor

Title: Dreams of Gods & Monsters

Author: Laini Taylor

Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Book: 3

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Blurb from Goodreads:

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. 

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

My Rating/Thoughts:

“Once upon a time,an angel and a devil pressed their hands to their hearts

and started the apocalypse.” 

I am going to start by saying this book was a monster! 613 pages of glorious writing that made my heart shrivel up from heartbreak and expand 20 sizes bigger because AVIKA AND KAROU♥♥♥♥♥

Seriously, it was that fantastic. It did take me a while to get into because for a while I just felt like nothing was really going on. There was a lot of building up and I just had to force myself to read. I think the problem I usually have is when authors will introduce new characters and give their perspectives and it takes me a while to get used to them. I don't know this person. I don't know their story and I don't care about them right now. 

But let's talk about the plot first (because I could write my own novel about the characters alone). The plot of this story was pretty good. I looovvvvveeedddd that the seraphim and chimaera finally came together to defeat Jael! YAAASSSSS! However. I didn't like how this whole "plan" kept getting hinted at and it really wasn't anything too special. Avika just burned a handprint into Jael and threatened to ignite it unless he left Earth with no weapons? Okay. That's a little anticlimatic. I was waiting for this huge brawl to finally take down Jael and his army, but I guess I was still satisfied. I also enjoyed that we saw more of the Stelians and the origin of sirithar. That was actually a little surprising (Poor Akiva). 

"It was not a happy ending, but a happy middle-- at last, after so many fraught beginnings."

Overall, this story was satisfying and I am beyond joyed that I got my happily ever after for Akiva and Karou! Seriously guys, their love is awesome sauce! They have the kind of love that everyone should strive for. I was in love with Avika. I was in love with Karou just reading Akiva's perspective. I felt it! I wanted it just as badly. Their glances! Their longing! GAH IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL! *cries*

“But let's not be casual about this body, okay?" She nuzzled him back. "It may be your soul that I love, but I'm pretty keen on its vessel, too."

And what I really, really, really liked about this book was how love was based on your soul. Karou fell in love with Akiva's soul, and vice versa. It doesn't matter what you look like, love only cares for your soul and who you are. The fact that Liraz could fall in love with Ziri despite the fact that he was chimaera was beautiful. I love this message and it makes me all giddy! 

Now as for the characters, Laini Taylor really knows how to make you fall in love with every single character she writes about. Except Thiago because seriously who needs him? But I loved them all! Karou, Akiva, Zuzanna, Mik, Ziri!!!, Even tough-exterior-Liraz, Issa, Hazael. Everyone! 

“You are a conniving, deceitful hussy. I stand in awe." 

"You're sitting."

"I sit in awe.” 

I loved Karou and Zuzanna's friendship so much. I loved that she wanted to help Karou and it actually tore her apart because she couldn't stay and help her friend. Their exchanges were just so beautiful that I would tear up here and there because they are amazing.

Even Zuzanna and Mik had a beautiful relationship. I loved how geeky and brave Mik was. And romantic! This guy! Let me tell you. The fact that he would not propose to Zuzanna unless he performed 3 heroic acts was so heartwarming. They joked around with each other so much that it was so cute and then when Mic would act on those jokes to make Zuzanna happy? Awwww! (:

I am currently now in a book hangover because I just loved this world so much. I love Laini Taylor for writing just a great fantasy trilogy that was so unlike anything I've read before. I loved the world she built with their legends. Now I will forever be looking up to the sky looking for my own portal to Eretz (:

{REVIEW} Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Book: 1
Rating: ★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Rating/Thoughts:

“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. 

It did not end well.” 

Perfect. This book is what I think I have been looking for in a great modern fantasy book. It's filled with a great world that I just didn't want to leave! It's a bit confusing at firsts because there is a lot of world building, but once I got the hang of it and understood everything, it just clicked. Everything made sense and I fell in love. I enjoyed the characters so much. Karou is such an interesting character and I loved her. Akiva is a dangerously sexy angel that you can't help but fall in love with. Once I really got into this book, I couldn't put it down. Even though my head was killing me and I couldn't read anymore, I kept going. I had to finish it.

“Wishes are false. Hope is true. Hope makes its own magic.” 

What was most interesting was the creatures in this novel. There are the "angels" the Seraph, or seraphim, and the Chimaera, the "devils" and they both have such a twist. Both chimaera and seraphim have different legends about how they came to be and it's so interesting to read the different legends in the book. The chimaera also are portrayed a little differently. In this world, they are half human and half various beasts. Reading all the descriptions in the book, I always thought "whoa that sounds so weird."  The book also goes back and forth a lot and it can be a bit confusing, but I think it was a great concept. The author doesn't spell it all out for us and makes it easy. Oh and I loved all the title pages at the beginning of a new part for the book with the feathers and the "Once upon a time..." introductions. It was so cute and really hooked me into the story.

“Once upon a time, an angel lay dying in the mist.

And a devil knelt over him and smiled.”

The magic in this novel had a nice twist as well. In this book, magic comes from pain. Magic has a cost and it was interesting to see how Brimstone would get so upset with Karou using magic on what he perceived as wasteful. I loved his relationship with Karou and Madrigal and how the novel showed that progression backwards. I am not going into too much detail because I don't want to spoil anyone but I will say one thing. One of my favorite small things I loved was how Madrigal would make all her random wishes out loud instead of actually using the scuppies (who wouldn't want a necklace of scuppies to keep around their neck to make wishes? I know I would). My favorite one was "I wish I had blue hair." That was my favorite and made me smile!

“And yet, something tied them together, strong than any of that, something with the power to conduct her blood and breath like a symphony, so that anything she did to fight against it felt like discord, like disharmony with her self.”

I LOVED LOVED LOVED AKIVA AND KAROU!!!! Their romance was so cute! So passionate and unlike any that I have read in the past couple months. I just loved it so much and can't wait to see what happens in the next books. I definitely need to pick the next books up immediately because I am dying to find out what happens next.

Would I recommend? Yes. This is a great fantasy novel and you should read it if you are looking for a different read that has a new world and great romance. I loved it. I mean look at that gorgeous cover? Doesn't that alone make you want to read it? (:

{REVIEW} Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Opposition
Author: Jennier L. Armentrout
Series: Lux
Book: 5
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:
Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

My Rating/Thoughts:
“Oh no. Oh, hell to the no to the tenth power.” 

It's always difficult to read a last book in the series because you never know where it's going to leave you. I usually only have two reactions. Either I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT or I am left heartbroken and empty because I expected more. This book has actually left me somewhere in the middle for the first time ever. I loved the ending and I thought the epilogue was very sweet, but everything else was a bit eh for me. Don't get me wrong I still absolutely love this book and it was filled with just as much action, jokes, and love as the rest of the series, but I thought the end with the Luxen was a bit hasty and left me thinking "that's it?"

“The most beautiful people, ones whose beauty is only rivaled by what is inside of them, are the ones who are quietly unaware of it.”

Now Origin left off with all the Luxen coming down on Earth like a bunch of fallen angels and they were quickly assimilating DNA from humans and killing everyone. I was still unsure where this world domination was going because it seemed they were targeting people who had families and public officials. So it was a bit disappointing that the one behind it was was Ethan just wanted revenge on the humans and that was the one and only reason why the Luxen were brought to Earth to complete mass destruction. Which says something because even Daemon and Katy voice their disappointment.

Nonetheless, it was still a fun read. I liked that we had to go to the Arum for help to defeat the Luxen and enemies became frenemies. I enjoyed Archer and Luc more in this book. They quickly became more of my favorites. They were both were just so darn funny that I loved them to pieces!

“Get out of my head.” “I can’t help it,” Archer replied from where he sat on the couch. “You’re broadcasting your thoughts so damn loudly I feel like I need to go sit in the corner and start rocking, whispering Daemon’s name over and over again.”

Now maybe it was because I expected more or maybe it was because the whole book was a little depressing, but I wasn't rushing to finish this. I mean I did come down with the flu and there was no way I was going to be able to power through this and that may have affected by overall reaction to this book, but it was just good to me. Not great.  This book did feel like a post-apocalyptic-dystopia and maybe that's why I felt like it was a tad depressing. There is still a lot of action which is nice. There is a lot of the same sarcasm and funny scenes. And there are a lot of hot steamy scenes with Katy and Daemon. Their relationship has really matured over these novels and it's nice to read because it depicts reality. JLA wrapped up this series nicely and I am so glad I read them. They are forever now one of my favorite series. I love her writing and how she just filled the books with a bunch of pop culture references! She brought up the Avengers, The Walking Dead, and countless Harry Potter references! I loved it and it always made me smile. I also loved how even our characters were thinking logically but then would bring up random stuff all the time. It was so entertaining to read because it was just so relatable!

“Hell, I’d keep her in Bubble Wrap if it weren’t so damn creepy and also inconvenient, considering I had a terrible habit of obsessively popping the damn things until not a single bubble was left.” 

Overall, I still really enjoyed it and I think it was a nice read and a good conclusion to the series. I am so sad that this series is over and I am going to deeply miss Daemon and Katy and Dee and Archer and Luc and just about everyone! These characters quickly became a part of me and I love them so much!!
I think my ranking of the books will have to be:
Obsidian
Origin
Onyx
Opposition
Opal

But that's just my opinion! And yes, I totally recommend!

Friday Finds #1

Friday Finds hosted by Should Be Reading showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

My finds:

    

  

• Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
• The Fill-in Boyfriend by Kasie West
• Endgame: The Calling by James Frey
• Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
• My Life With The Walter Boys by Ali Novak

*REVIEW* Cursed by Jennifer L Armentrout

Title: Cursed
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rating: ★★★ 1/2

Blurb from Goodreads:

Dying sucks
...and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. 

After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?

But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life.


For real this time.

My Rating/Thoughts: 

Caution: this will contain mild spoilers.

I got this book free on my Kindle through Amazon when they offered me a free book if I signed up for their Teen novels newsletters. Among the choices, I chose this book because it was written by Jennifer L. Armentrout and sounded the closest to something that I would enjoy. Now I have never read anything by JLA before so I was pretty excited since I hear nothing but wonderful reviews for the Lux series. So I was a little bummed out that this book took me four months to actually finish. The start was really slow and I just kept putting it down and picking up another book instead. Every time I decided to give this another try, I would read about ten pages and then sit it back down. I think it felt like it was just a little too reminiscent of Shatter Me with Ember being able to kill with just her touch and plus being surrounded by others with special gifts as well (this always reminded me of X-Men (lol). So about twenty or so books later, I finally set out to finish this book once and for all and I would not rest until I had it done!

Ember is a bit of a loner in the beginning of the book. Ever since the accident, she is afraid to get too close to anyone for fear of hurting them. She has one friend named Adam and her sister, the only two people in the world she actually has in her life. Her mother is catatonic and has not said a word to her in two years. So after another freak accident in the grocery store parking lot where Ember accidentally kills her ex-boyfriend who got a little too close, Ember finds herself ripped away from her life, her school, her house, and within the residence of Cromwell, who for some unknown reason seems to find  the "Gifteds" and brings them together. As Ember begins to try to control her "curse" with the help of Hayden Cromwell, the sexy guy who seems to know a lot about her, she unlocks the secrets to the accident that changed her life.  

So, let's get down to business: Ember got on my nerves, plain and simple. She was overly accusing of Cromwell and his entire family and it got a little annoying. I admit it does throw you a loop when she finds out that the accident that killed her father and well, her, wasn't in fact an accident was shocking. But the fact that she does nothing but point fingers to Cromwell the entire book was irritating. I know Cromwell seemed a little suspicious and I would have suspected him too since he seemed too keen on wanting Olivia and her gift of bringing back the dead, but it wasn't like Ember actually took the time to get to know him either. She shyed away from him, she avoided pretty much everyone in the house and made them all extremely uncomfortable, which resulted in no one liking her and wanting her gone. They were all already afraid of her because of her gift and it didn't help that Ember's emotions were dark and isolated herself that made everyone even more afraid of her. Aside from all of this, I really enjoyed her character. I enjoyed reading her progress with trying to come to terms with her gift. It was kind of heart breaking to learn that she found herself to be so ugly and unlovable because of, what she considered, her "curse. So it brought a tear to my eye when she finally realized that she could take responsibility over this "curse" and control it. She wasn't soullesss or "unnatural and wrong" she was actually gifted like the others. Once she understood this, she was able to touch without killing. This made me feel so happy for her! Now she can have the life that she deserved and always longed for.

Now let's talk about the gorgeous Hayden. Hayden is an enerpath and I loved him. I loved him so much. He was just so cute and always looking out for Ember even when people warned him to stay away from her. Now I do find it a bit weird that he basically sort of stalked her for two years and said he loved her just by watching her, but it was still sweet to see how their relationship progressed. He knew he would never hurt Ember with his gift and regardless of everything Ember believed, he knew she would never hurt him or anyone and she wasn't a freak. He looked at her with such love and didn't even falter when he saw all her scars. He was just so perfect to me. *swoon* 

Now what I really liked about this book was the big shocker twist in the end. The whole book, you are wondering who actually caused the not-so-accident and what happened to her mother. Who wiped out her mother's memory to make her believe Ember is actually dead? Why  were they after Olivia? Who is bullying her at school? Who is killing dead animals and stuffing them in her locker? And what comes out is shocking! I did not expect any of it! My jaw literally dropped to the floor when I was reading. But I really enjoyed the ending. I enjoyed the comings together of stories intermingling and that Ember finds out she was not the only one who had her gift and even though that girl's fate led to a suicide, that didn't mean that Ember had the same end She could have a better life. I loved that she finally felt like she had a home among Cromwell and his children. I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't perfect by a long shot, but it was still enjoyable once it finally picked up. Now if this is one of JLA's "worst" books (popular opinion from her fans' reviews) than I am excited to read more of her novels to see how good those ones actually are. I am glad that it got better because I was really starting to doubt if I'd ever finish it so I am overjoyed that I ended up actually enjoying the end and the story line. 

Do I recommend it? Hmm, probably. 

But wait, so who did wipe her mother's memory? We will never know...

*REVIEW* The Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking

Title: Switched, Torn, and Ascend
Author: Amanda Hocking
Series: Trylle Trilogy
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:
When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.
My Rating/Thoughts:
What started as a satisfactory read turned into a great, loving and dear series for me. When I read Switched two years ago, I was entertained. I thought it was a nice concept and I enjoyed entering the Förening and engaging with all of the Trylle society. The world was really captivating and I wanted to know more about these people,the Queen, the manskling, the Markis and Marksinna. Now for whatever reason I put this series off for two years. Probably because I was catching up on my other TBR pile of books or just became obsessed with whatever else I was reading at the time. But when I stepped back into the Förening, I was hooked. I read Torn and Ascend both in a day! 
"I will make this world a better place, whether they like it or not. That’s the fun of being Queen."
Now let's talk about the characters. Wendy had become a much more enjoyable  and strong character. In Switched, she was so whiny and annoying that I really didn't connect to her at all. I didn't care that she developed this instalove type crush with Finn and that it wasn't going to work out. She had to do what she had to for her people and accept that she was a much more important person to the Trylle than just being with the one she "loved." Maybe it was because I didn't care for Finn or didn't connect with Wendy, but I wasn't heartbroken that she would lose him. I just didn't care.Nonetheless I don't know why Wendy didn't think to just own her position as queen and override the rules and prejudices about royalty and Trackers being together is beyond me! That seemed like the more obvious solution, but hey I guess we needed more conflict or maybe Wendy is just that oblivious. *shrugs* But I did really enjoy Wendy in later books. She showed great character development. I loved that she stepped up and took over the role of acting queen for her mother. I was also happy that we finally got to see more of Queen Elora and the story of Wendy's birth. Elora wasn't just this cold-hearted woman that we all thought she was. She truly did love Wendy and just wanted to protect her. I only wish we could have had more time to see them together! 

“I know you’ll be a good Queen, a strong, noble leader, and that’s more than

these people deserve,” she said. “But don’t give too much. You need to keep some

of yourself for you. And listen to your heart.”

Now let's talk about one of my absolute favorite characters, Loki Staad. Loki, Loki, Loki, where do I even begin with this beautiful, charming, sarcastic, cocky, wonderful guy? *sigh* He is just wonderful. I don't think I've enjoyed a character more in this series as I did him. Every scene with him was great. He brought giggles and swoons every time he appeared on the page. He had some of the best lines in the series that always just made me laugh and say "Oh, Loki"
“Everything’s not exactly the way it seems ” I said. 
“It seemed like you had your tongue down his throat ” Finn glared at us both. 
“Well then everything is exactly as it seems” Loki said glibly.” 
 Loki was such a complex character. Underneath his cocky attitude, jokes, and sarcastic nature, you saw true depth. He gave up everything to protect Wendy. He put his life on the line to secure her safety. He defied orders to make sure she was safe and never forced her into doing anything she didn't want to do. Even if the evil, Vittra King would have killed him if he didn't succeed. I think that's what truly won me over to his side.  Whereas Wendy felt conflicted about her position and status or following orders, Loki proved that she was more important. He'd do whatever it took for her. I think that's what made him win in the end as well. 

"Everything I went through. For you. It was worth it."

Finn on the other hand...well he made me so angry! He and Wendy could have had a great relationship if he had shown any effort at all! He didn't fight for Wendy. He didn't stand up for himself. All he did was stand aside and let whatever fly by and take his chance at happiness with her. She tried countless times to try to fix what they had (if they actually had anything to begin with) but he wouldn't have it. Now I know there are those that liked Wendy and Finn together better and I mean no harm but I just think he was all wrong for her. He would always see himself as a Tracker and value his position. He would protect her life at all costs, but that's where their relationship would always end. I wished he would have fought to be with her no matter his status, but he didn't. On the eve of her Wedding to Tove. Finn knew he would never have her and instead of just telling her "hey don't do this. I love you and want to be the one you're with. let's make this work." No. He would rather her be in a friendship marriage with a gay guy! A gay guy who wouldn't give her the love that she deserves, but hey as long as she's with him it's fine because I can trust him. Because damn if I'll ever see her with someone who might actually make her happy.

"Tomorrow you will belong to someone else. But tonight, you're with me." UUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH *rolles eyes*

Speaking of Tove....how cute was he? I just loved him so much. He was a great friend to Wendy and even a great husband. He helped her get control and strengthen her powers. He helped make her the powerful Trylle she became and I loved their friendship. He looked out for her. He was her partner and always supported her no matter what. He wanted what made her happy and did whatever she felt she needed to do. He would also defy laws and orders to make sure she was happy or simply to just do the right thing. I think that's what baffled Wendy the most. Tove would defy orders for her sake, and Loki, but Finn wouldn't. I just think it's so great that Hocking made Tove gay. I thought this was a nice touch and it make me love him even more. 

Now The Vittra King. What a load of jerk with a side of doucheface. I hated him. I hated who he actually was and how he just wanted to use Wendy. He was just terrible and I am so glad for his ending and that Wendy got her chance at him! Because this man just really needed to get out of here!

Overall, I really, really, really  enjoyed this series. The first book was okay, but I loved the last two. We got to see more of the Vittra and their hobgoblins and what exactly they wanted Wendy for or why their kingdom was crumbling. However, I did think that the ending to Ascend happened kind of quickly and I would have loved to see the other battles that happened outside of what we saw, but I understood why we didn't. Wendy didn't see it, so we didn't either. All in all I really loved this series. I enjoyed reading about the troubles going on in the Trylle community, learning about their powers and taking a look into the prejudices between the Markis/Marksinna and trackers or mansklig. But those prejudices have got to go! (Let's start with Aurora! That woman needs to get her priorities in order).  I love Amanda Hocking and the worlds she brings. I have read her self-published series My Blood Approves and I look forward to reading more of her novels.

Happy reading!